Few people will execute this experiment properly the first time, for the instinctive fear to break the bottle and cut their fingers, will prevent them giving a blow sharp enough to make this experiment successfully at the first attempt; but with a little perseverance, the necessary degree of force will be gauged to a nicety.
A Fiery Catapult.
Take a match-box and place it upright edge-wise and place two matches in each side between the inner and outer box, heads up. They must be inserted deeply enough to stick firmly.
Place a third match cross-wise between them and it will stay there by the pressure the latter exercises on them.
Now light the middle of the horizontal match and wait. What do you think will happen? Ask the bystanders which will first catch fire?
The natural conclusion they will draw will be the following.